JAL trims cargo service, warns of domestic strike

JAL trims cargo service, warns of domestic strike Japan Airlines is further tightening its belt amid weak North American cargo demand and high fuel prices by restructuring its cargo network for the next six months.
   Under the plan, JAL will suspend freighter operations between Tokyo’s Narita airport and New York and reduce the frequency of freighter flights to Los Angeles from six to five per week. JAL said focusing on Los Angeles and Chicago as freighter destinations will help maintain profitability during a difficult economic period. New York will continue to be served by belly capacity in its passenger fleet.
   The airline said it will have retired the last two 747-200 freighters from its fleet by the end of November. The 747-200s are much less fuel-efficient than later models.
   JAL, which operates seven 747-400 freighters, will also cancel plans to convert one of its 747-400 passenger planes into an all-cargo aircraft.
   Meanwhile, the Japanese carrier is warning a possible strike on Oct. 1 by cockpit and crews could disrupt about a quarter of domestic service.
   No international flights would be affected by the strike, the airline said.
   A second pilot’s union has also announced it is considering a separate strike on Oct. 2.